Yesterday a big Victory demonstration and fireworks and also a huge fire in the Hindu quarter in the city which did enormous damage. Rather tired of doing nothing, waiting for orders and living on a very small rate of pay.
The sensation of the War being over is peculiar. I lectured at the Islamia College to the students on Monday 18th, at the Club on Wednesday 20th, an address at the Soldiers’ Home to the C.E.M.S.* on Thursday, 21st. On Monday we dine with the Chief Commissioner**, and on Tuesday I give a lecture at the Edwards College.
*Church of England Men’s Society
**Most likely Roos-Keppel
Left the kind and hospitable roof of the Rennies for our friends the Bomfords C.M.S.
Susanna and Miss Key arrived from Murree by the early morning train and brought with them the wonderful news of:
P E A C E A T L A S T !
and this GREATEST WAR is over.
We are so accustomed to war in this fifth year that we can hardly believe the news.
Meantime I have been more or less forgiven and am to have command of a new Brigade at Agra – but I do not believe now that the war is over that they will ever want any new Brigades. Susanna and Miss Key are staying with the Bomfords and we go over there also in a few days.
We celebrated Peace at the Club with a Champagne dinner party with the Rennies.
God is good to use that we should always be allowed to be together on our wedding day – to-day is the 21st anniversary, and to-morrow we begin our 22nd year.
Arrived Peshawar 6.30 a.m., staying with the Rennies – I am glad we came here, there is no spot on earth where we would have more friends and they are good friends. Quite enough friends to keep us cheery – and I am not down on my luck. The telegrams I sent the War Office were certainly impertinent and much too strong, I see that now in cold blood, but they should make allowance for circumstances and let me off with an apology – their present treatment is certainly unjust. But what do all these petty little private matters weigh against the splendid war news – Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria unconditional surrender! and the end of the war – a victorious end – in sight.
